University of New Hampshire

School of Law

Survival Guide – Explore

Explore

Living in Concord, NH, puts you in the center of one of the beautiful, widely varied and incredibly historic regions in the country. Concord's central location positions you just an hour from Boston, the New Hampshire (and Maine) Seacoast, the beautiful White Mountains and lovely pastoral Vermont. You'll be even closer to many of New Hampshire's most charming destination towns and cities. The state's Lakes Region is just 20 minutes to the north, and foodies will love the destination towns of Manchester and Nashua, to the south.

Everyone needs an occasional break from studying – we highly recommend these destinations, all within a day's drive of UNH Law:

Hanover, NH: The drive up to Hanover, on I-89, has some of the loveliest views you'll find in the state. And once you reach your destination, you may have a tough time deciding what to do – explore downtown Hanover's coffee shops, boutiques, and bookstores, eat at one of its good restaurants (we recommend Lou's Restaurant and Bakery for breakfast and Murphy's on the Green for lunch or dinner), take in the Dartmouth campus, which is intermingled with the downtown area, relax on The Green, or drive just a few miles out of town and explore the neighboring Vermont town, White River Junction.

Littleton, NH: This "picturesque New England gem" sits right in the White Mountains, and the beautiful views you'll see on your drive up are half the fun. Perhaps more important, Littleton is home to the World's Longest Candy Counter. Yes, you heard that right.

Boston, MA: There are dozens of reasons to visit Boston – for the food, the shopping, the arts scene, the rock shows, the people-watching, the history – we could go on and on, but we'll let you discover your own reasons. You can skip the drive and just take the bus to Boston for the day. Concord Coach Lines offers same-day round-trip service to Boston for $24, saving you the hassle of paying for parking – and finding a parking spot.

Concord, MA: The OTHER Concord is about an hour and a half from this one, and it was the scene of the first battle of the American Revolution. During the middle of the nineteenth century, Concord was home to some of the greatest minds in America, including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Nathaniel Hawthorne. Today, visitors can swim in Walden Pond, tour the Minute Man National Historic Park, or just spend the day eating and shopping in Concord's posh downtown.

Portland, ME: The other Portland – a beautiful downtown right on the water, the northeasternmost hipster outpost on the East Coast, and home to some of the best food in the country. Just an hour and a half's drive away, you can spend the day shopping, exploring, and trying some of the best food you'll find outside New York City. For fine dining, try Fore Street, and for a more casual experience, sample the Belgian fries at Duckfat.

Bar Harbor, ME: Bar Harbor is located on Maine's Mont Desert Island, home to Acadia National Park, a paradise for anyone who loves hiking, cycling, swimming, camping, whale-watching, or just eating lots of fresh lobster. About a six-hour drive from Concord, this is a great destination for a long weekend, especially in late spring or early fall, when most tourists are gone.

Bethel, ME: If you love skiing (downhill OR cross-country) ,Bethel is a must. This town, located about two and a half hours from Concord, in the mountains of Maine, is home to the Sunday River resort and the Bethel Inn Resort, where skiers of all types will find everything they need for an enjoyable day, including some of the best barbecue you'll find anywhere.

Montpelier, VT: The Green Mountain State's capitol, Montpelier is just an hour and a half away. Tour the Vermont State House, one of the country's oldest and best-preserved capitols. The House and Senate chambers are the oldest legislative chambers in their original condition anywhere in the country, and bonus if you spot the larger-than-life LL Bean-style portrait of Howard Dean in the halls. Montpelier is also home to the New England Culinary Institute, and visitors to the city can taste the students' efforts at the downtown eateries NECI on Main and La Brioche Bakery and Café. Or just grab a beer and people-watch: the combination of hippies and legislative types is unbeatable.

Brattleboro, VT: Named one of America's best small towns by Smithsonian magazine, Brattleboro is a funky place. The vibe is part college town, part New England mountain village. Visitors will find some great local breweries, an art museum (featuring dim sum, anyone?), a theater, a huge natural foods store, one of the best farmers' markets in New England, an interesting mix of small local businesses, and some great hiking and biking opportunities.

Burlington, VT: This college town, located on beautiful Lake Champlain about two and a half hours from Concord, is a fantastic weekend trip. Head to one of the many festivals held at the city's Waterfront Park, check out the adjacent bike path (great views and a beach as destination), or just spend the day in the downtown's open air mall, where you can sit outside, have a drink, and watch the day go by. There are some great restaurants, coffee shops, tea shops and bars in Burlington, and on the drive home, don't forget to stop at the Magic Hat Brewing Company.